Modular kitchen unit

ABSTRACT

A modular kitchen unit has a plurality of adjacent functional elements and includes a multiplicity of vertical posts in the form of sections having a profile with at least a front wing and a side wing, a multiplicity of upper and lower panels and of lower partitions fixed to the vertical posts. The vertical posts have through slots at least superiorly in the front wing, and the upper panels have hook members engaging the through slots for mounting the upper panels to the vertical posts, in such a way that the modular kitchen unit is free-standing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a modular kitchen unit.

BACKGROUND ART

U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,184 describes a kitchen unit construction comprising the usual fixture items such as a sink, appliances, shelves. The kitchen unit has metal sections of varying height depending on the space in which the kitchen unit is to be installed between the floor level and the ceiling level near a wall. The sections are connected by transverse members and form a gap that can be used for receiving and installing pipes such as, for instance, for washing machines, refrigerators, discharge pipes, stove pipes. Advantageously, such gap can be used for refrigeration exchangers and, in general, for air circulation and exchange with the help of openings made between the shelves and the floor.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,253 also describes a kitchen cabinet comprising a structure having vertical and horizontal square shaped channels. The horizontal channels are fixed to the floor near the wall, and the vertical channels are free-standing as they are connected to the horizontal channels.

DE 3106310 A1 discloses a modular kitchen unit having L-shaped supporting elements, whose longer leg is vertical and shorter leg rests on the floor by feet. The supporting elements are generally U-shaped profile sections. In the longer leg a plurality of pins pass through the wings of the U-shaped profile section to allow kitchen modular elements to be hooked. Thanks to the L-shaped supporting elements, the modular kitchen unit can be spaced from a wall.

US 2010/090567 A1 discloses a modular storage furniture system having a support structure according to several embodiments. The support structure according to the first two embodiments is fixed to a wall: one of said support structures rests on the floor with feet, and the other is hung. The support structure according a third embodiment is blocked between floor and ceiling and a fourth embodiment shows a free-standing support structure as each vertical fastening post is connected to a rigid base unit. FR 2635956 A1 describes a modular kitchen unit having a support structure fastened to a wall.

GB 2205624 A relates to structural frame components, i.e. vertical angle irons and connectors which can be easily assembled into a frame in a quick manner by merely engaging preformed wedge-in engaging holes of the former and wedge-in pins of the latter mutually.

Many of the kitchen units described in the aforementioned patents need to be anchored to the walls, to the ceiling or to the floor to support themselves. DE 3106310 A1 and US 2010/090567 A1 describe also modular kitchen units that are spaced from a wall; no fastening means fixes them to a wall or a ceiling. However, their support structure is L-shaped so that it forms a rest base for free-standing. As a result, the posts are complex, as they must have cross-section shape adapted to engage other kitchen components. Further, their support structures have rather complicated and expensive hooking systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects of the present invention are to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

The main object of the invention is to provide a modular kitchen unit that one can assemble from the front without having to operate from the back.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular kitchen unit that can be easily assembled and dismantled without a technician.

Another object is to provide a modular kitchen unit that does not require attaching to walls, floor or ceilings and detaching from them.

The present invention achieves the foregoing objects by means of a modular kitchen unit comprising a plurality of adjacent functional elements and including a multiplicity of vertical posts and a multiplicity of upper panels and lower panels and lower partitions, the vertical posts having through slots at least superiorly, and the upper panels having hook members for engaging the through slots of the vertical posts, characterized in that each vertical post is fastened to one of the multiplicity of lower panels and lower partitions for making free-standing the modular kitchen unit, without any supporting base other than the lower panels and the lower partitions, and without any fastening means for fixing the vertical posts to wall or ceiling.

The advantages obtained with the above described kitchen unit are remarkable. They are listed below.

When assembling the kitchen unit, it becomes free-standing so that it can be assembled in a more comfortable and easier way.

The kitchen unit can be assembled in its final location without requiring to be mounted elsewhere and, then, transported there.

The kitchen unit according to the present invention consists of a number of parts and means for connecting them, so as not to require the intervention of a skilled person.

Supplies such as electricity, water, gas, and water discharges can reach any point in the kitchen unit without requiring masonry, such as tracing.

The distance of the kitchen unit from the wall can be a free choice of the house owner according to his/her needs.

Another important advantage of the kitchen unit according to the invention is that, since the kitchen unit is not attached to the wall, air circulation is permitted both in front and rear, and formation of moisture, mold and odors is prevented.

Since the kitchen unit according to the invention is not attached to the wall, its installation does not require masonry or other work on existing structures.

The kitchen unit can be easily dismantled, and this allows whitewashing or restoration.

Any item of the kitchen unit is easily replaceable after any breakage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and, therefore, non-limiting, description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a modular kitchen unit, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front axonometric view of a first embodiment of kitchen unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front axonometric view showing the kitchen unit in FIG. 1 at an initial step of its assembly;

FIG. 3 is a rear axonometric view of the kitchen unit at an assembly step subsequent to that in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear axonometric view showing an enlarged detail of parts in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear axonometric view of a second embodiment of a kitchen unit according to the present invention during assembly; and

FIG. 6 is a rear axonometric view showing in enlarged scale a detail of a third embodiment of a kitchen unit according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

Reference is initially made to FIG. 1 which is a front axonometric view of a first embodiment of kitchen unit according to the present invention.

The modular kitchen unit has a plurality of adjacent functional elements indicated as 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, and 1L. Such functional elements can be, in succession, a refrigerator compartment, a first hanging closet, a hood, a second hanging closet, a plate rack, a chest of drawers, a hob, a storage furniture, a sink with under sink. An oven, dishwasher or other household appliances and compartments may also be added as desired. The kitchen unit includes a plurality of vertical posts, such as that indicated as 2 in FIG. 1. The vertical posts 2 rests on the floor behind the functional elements. Alternatively, for example in the presence of adjacent legs, a vertical post 24 does not rest on the floor.

Reference is made now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which are asymmetric front e rear views showing the kitchen unit in subsequent mounting steps and an enlarged detail of parts in FIG. 3, respectively.

The vertical post 2, as shown in particular in FIG. 4, is a section having at least a front wing 20 and a lateral wing 21. The section may have a cross-section other than that shown in FIG. 4.

Each functional element is obtained by the combination of a plurality of upper panels 3 and lower panels 4, and of lower partitions 5 fixed to the vertical posts.

According to the present invention, through slots 22, such as that shown in FIG. 4, are made superiorly in the front wing 20 of the vertical posts 2. The upper panels 3 have hook members 6, which can enter the through slots 22 for mounting the upper panels 3 to the vertical posts 2.

Although not shown in detail, the vertical posts 2 have inferiorly through holes 7 (FIG. 4) for inserting fastening members for fastening the lower partitions 5 to the vertical posts 2.

The fastening members of the lower partitions 5 to the vertical posts 2 can be screws.

Back panels 8 are joined orthogonally to the lower partitions 5 near the vertical posts 2. Spacers 9 can be inserted between subsequent pairs of vertical posts 2 (FIG. 3). A vertical post 24 in correspondence of feet 16 does not lean against the floor.

The assembly of the kitchen unit according to the first embodiment of the invention can be carried out starting from a first pillar element, that of the refrigerator 1A (FIG. 2). This pillar element includes an end side panel 11 and an intermediate side panel 12, whose height is equal to the height of the vertical posts 2. A top back panel 13 is useful for connecting the two side panels 11 and 12, spaced below by means of spacers 14. In this way, thanks to the U shape of the first pillar element 11-12-13, the kitchen unit has a stable starting element to which a first vertical post 2 can be mounted in the intermediate side panel 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first lower partition 5 is secured to the intermediate side panel 12 coplanar thereto. Secured perpendicularly to the intermediate side panel 12 is a lower back panel 15 to which is joined a second lower partition 5 with feet 16, 16. The second lower partition 5 is secured to a vertical post 24 at the rear.

The assembly of the kitchen unit proceeds essentially in the same manner as shown in FIG. 3 with the upper panels 3 acting as crossbeams engaged with the latching elements 6 on their respective vertical posts 2.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which is a rear axonometric view of a second embodiment of kitchen unit according to the present invention in an assembly step.

The assembly of the kitchen unit according to the second embodiment of the invention can be carried out from a chest of drawers 1F, which is the functional element adjacent to the pillar structure 11-12-13 of the functional element 1A shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the first embodiment. This chest of drawers includes a bottom end side panel, which is the first lower partition 5 of the first embodiment, to which at the rear a first vertical post 2, resting on the floor, is secured. Perpendicular to the lower end side panel is a lower back panel 15 to which a second lower partition 5 with feet 16 is joined, fixed at the rear to an vertical post 24 not resting on the floor.

The assembly of the kitchen unit of the second embodiment proceeds essentially as shown and described for the first embodiment. In the same way as shown in FIG. 3, with the upper panels 3 acting as crossbeams engaging with the latching elements 6 on their vertical posts 2, 24, respectively.

It should be understood that the kitchen unit has been illustrated and described in the two embodiments only by way of an example, because the assembly could take place from any functional element.

It should also be apparent that other combinations of parts could be made according to the space and needs of the user.

For example, the layout of the kitchen unit may be cornered as shown in FIG. 6, which is a rear axonometric view showing in an enlarged scale a detail of a third embodiment of kitchen unit according to the present invention.

It can be seen that a vertical post 23 has superiorly through slots 22 in both the front wing 20 and the lateral wing 21. The upper panels 3 have hook members 6 which can enter the through slots 22 of the front wing 20 and of the wing lateral 21 of the vertical post 23 for the consecutive angle assembly of upper panels 3 on the vertical posts 2. 

1. A modular kitchen unit comprising a plurality of adjacent functional elements (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I, and 1L) and including a multiplicity of vertical posts (2; 23; 24) and a multiplicity of upper panels (3) and lower panels (4) and of lower partitions (5), the vertical posts (2; 23; 24) having through slots (22) at least superiorly, and the upper panels (3) having hook members (6) for engaging the through slots (22) of the vertical posts (2; 23; 24), characterized in that each vertical post (2; 23; 24) is fastened to one of the multiplicity of lower panels (4) and lower partitions (5) for making free-standing the modular kitchen unit, without any supporting base other than the lower panels (4) and the lower partitions (5), and without any fastening means for fixing the vertical posts to wall or ceiling.
 2. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, wherein the vertical posts (2; 23; 24) are sections having a profile with a front wing (20) and a side wing (21).
 3. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, in which the vertical posts (2; 23; 24) have inferiorly through holes (7) for the insertion of fastening members for fastening the lower partitions (5) to the vertical posts (2; 23; 24).
 4. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 3, wherein the fastening members of lower partitions (5) to the vertical posts (2; 23; 24) are screws.
 5. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, in which the vertical posts (2; 23) rest on the floor.
 6. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, in which the vertical posts (24) do not rest on the floor.
 7. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a pillar structure of a first functional element (1A) includes an end side panel (11) and an intermediate side panel (12), both having a height equal to the height of the vertical posts (2), and a back upper panel (13) for the connection between the two side panels (11, 12), a vertical post (2) being fixed also to the intermediate side panel (12).
 8. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a chest of drawers in the structure of a second functional element (1F) has an end lower side panel (5), to which rearly fixed is a first vertical post (2) resting on the floor and, adjacent to a pair of feet (16), a second vertical post (24) not resting on the floor.
 9. The modular kitchen unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical posts (23) have also superiorly in the side wing (21) through slots (22), and the upper panels (3) have hook members (6) engaging through slots (22) of the front wings (20) and lateral wings (21) for the consecutive angular assembly of the upper panels (3). 